Soul II Soul is a two-time Grammy winning act that emerged at the end of th… Read Full Bio ↴Soul II Soul is a two-time Grammy winning act that emerged at the end of the 1980s from London. The group initially attracted attention as a sound system, playing records at house and street parties (where their clothing style - dubbed "Funki Dred" - quickly made a splash, inspiring them to start a line of clothing). Founded by Jazzie B and featuring a changing roster of other musicians - notably Nellee Hooper, Simon Law, Phillip 'Daddae' Harvey and Caron Wheeler - Soul II Soul's experiments in music-making of their own resulted in the dub plate "Fairplay," which secured them a deal with Virgin Records. They had huge hits in 1989 with the singles "Keep on Movin'" and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)," both from their debut album Club Classics Vol. I. These songs (both featuring Wheeler on vocals) set the tone for early 90s mainstream dance music in the UK.

Their follow-up album, Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade, yielded the hits "Get a Life" and "A Dream's a Dream," the latter featuring operatic vocals by Victoria Wilson-James. While their U.S. following declined somewhat following its release, Soul II Soul continued to have hits in the UK, including 1992's #4 single, "Joy."

Soul II Soul reached Volume 5 of their series for Virgin in 1995, then released 2 more albums for Island Records.

Ride On
Soul II Soul Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ride on ride on
Ride on ride on

There's a stop light up ahead
It appears to be reading red
So, I stop to see
Which way is best for me

Many avenues go east and west
Which will I choose, the right or left?
'cause I got no time to lose
You see I must be free

I'll head for the East
Where I'll find peace, where I'll find peace
As I pump two tune underneath the moon
Going through the night till sunrise
As I ride, as I ride on

Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groovin'
Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groove
Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groovin'
Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groove

Now the journey has begun
As I'm breezin' into the sun
Still I wait to see
Which way is best for me

Many avenues go East and West
Which will I choose
Going forward
No turning back for me

I'll head for the East
Where I'll find peace, where I'll find peace
As I pump two tune underneath the moon
Going through the night till sunrise
As I ride, as I ride on

Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groovin'
Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groove

Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groovin'
Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groove

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Soul II Soul's song "Ride On" are about a journey - both physical and metaphorical. The song begins with the singer standing at a stop light, unsure of which direction to take. He knows he must push forward and make a choice, but he's weighed down by the many avenues that go "East and West". Throughout the song, the singer resolves to head East, where he believes that he'll find peace. He's determined to keep moving forward, even if he doesn't know exactly where he's headed or what he'll find.

The chorus of the song ("Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groovin' / Ride on, bumpa to bumpa groove") speaks to the idea of momentum - the idea that the journey, both physical and metaphorical, will continue regardless of any obstacles that are encountered. The use of the term "bumpa to bumpa" conveys a sense of rhythm and movement, as if the journey itself has a beat.

Overall, "Ride On" is a song about perseverance, decision-making, and the importance of keeping one's eyes on the horizon. The singer isn't sure what he'll encounter on the road ahead, but he's determined to push forward and find his way.

Line by Line Meaning

Ride on ride on
Continuing on my journey

Ride on ride on
Moving forward with confidence

There's a stop light up ahead
There is an obstacle in front of me

It appears to be reading red
The obstacle is telling me to stop

So, I stop to see
I pause and evaluate my situation

Which way is best for me
I consider my options and choose the best path

Many avenues go east and west
There are multiple paths to take

Which will I choose, the right or left?
Which path will lead me to success?

'cause I got no time to lose
I can't waste any time

You see I must be free
I must maintain my freedom

Now the journey has begun
My mission has started